(Photo courtesy office of state AG Ferguson, who is at the podium)
11:04 AM: Just announced by state Attorney General Bob Ferguson – a criminal wage-theft/tax-evasion case with defendants including Sam Adams, who owned the former West Seattle (Athletic) Club until filing for bankruptcy and relinquishing it to the building owner last October. What follows is the official news release; we’re on a media conference call and will add any additional information that it yields (update: that’s added at end of story):

Attorney General Ferguson files criminal wage theft and fraud charges against athletic club executives Sam Adams and Dana Sargent

$500,000 in unpaid taxes, withheld salary, and unpaid insurance premiums

Washington State Attorney General Bob Ferguson has filed criminal charges in King County Superior Court against the owners and operators of West Seattle Athletic Club for stealing wages and evading taxes. In only the second wage-theft criminal prosecution brought by the state, the Attorney General’s Office seeks justice for harmed workers and Washington taxpayers.

Defendants Sam Adams and Dana Sargent are alleged to have engaged in theft and fraud totaling over $500,000. The defendants allegedly failed to pay state taxes, withheld wages from workers, failed to pay workers’ insurance premiums, and failed to pay unemployment insurance.

The charging documents can be found here and here.

“Wage theft is a crime, and its victims are often among our most vulnerable residents. I won’t stand for violators who cheat working families out of their hard-earned wages,” said Attorney General Bob Ferguson. “My office will prosecute unscrupulous businesses that steal money out of the pockets of wage earners and taxpayers.”

Owned Two Athletic Clubs in Washington

According to the charging documents, the defendants owned and operated six athletic clubs, four in Oregon and two in Washington, between 2012 and 2014.

One Washington location, Lincoln Plaza Athletic Club LLC in Tacoma, closed in 2013 due to unpaid retail sales tax.

The other Washington location, West Seattle Athletic Club LLC, closed in 2013, after which West Seattle Club LLC opened at the same location. This operation closed in October 2014 after the landlord evicted the defendants for unpaid rent.

Allegations of Theft and Fraud

The AGO alleges the defendants:

Failed to pay the state approximately $446,000 in retail sales taxes that they collected for their Washington athletic clubs.
Failed to pay 11 employees wages they rightfully earned totaling $7,166.
Deducted insurance premium payments from employee paychecks, but failed to pay the insurance company, Aetna Healthcare. Aetna lost approximately $41,640 in unpaid medical and dental premiums, and workers were exposed to the risk of unpaid medical bills.
Failed to pay over $35,000 into state unemployment insurance.

Criminal Charges Filed, Restitution Sought

The AGO has charged Adams and Sargent with:

Five counts of Theft in the First Degree (Class B felony, 10-year maximum sentence);
Three counts of Theft in the Second Degree (Class C felony, 5-year maximum sentence);
Four counts of Filing a False or Fraudulent Tax Return (Class C felony, 5-year maximum sentence); and
Nine counts of Theft in the Third Degree (gross misdemeanor, 364-day maximum sentence).
Sentencing guidelines indicate a potential sentencing range for the charges of 43 to 57 months. The AGO has alleged that aggravating circumstances are present in this case, which could lead to an upward departure from that range.

The AGO is also seeking full restitution for all of the victims involved including the State of Washington, the individual employees, and Aetna Healthcare.

Arraignment is scheduled for Feb. 18, 2015 in King County Superior Court.

The charges contained in the charging documents are allegations only. A person is presumed innocent unless and until he or she is proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt in a court of law.

Commitment to Combatting Wage Theft

Working families lose billions of dollars to wage theft each year, when crooked employers fail to pay legal minimum wages or overtime rates, require off-the-clock work, or simply bounce checks. Low-wage earners are particularly hard hit. One rigorous academic study of America’s three largest cities found that over two-thirds of workers in low-wage industries had experienced at least one pay-related violation in the previous week.

In 2012, the U.S. Department of Labor collected over $280 million in back wages on behalf of some 300,000 workers, but that still leaves millions more wage earners owed pay unjustly withheld from them. This was more than twice the amount of money stolen in bank, gas station, and convenience store robberies combined in that same year.

Under Attorney General Ferguson, the Attorney General’s Office has put an emphasis on combatting wage theft in partnership with state agencies and county prosecutors. Additionally, the Attorney General recently proposed bipartisan legislation that would ensure the State of Washington does not do business with wage theft violators. The bill would prohibit businesses that have willfully or repeatedly violated the state’s wage payment laws during the past three years from receiving any contracts with Washington state. The prime sponsors of the legislation are Sen. Pam Roach, R—Auburn and Rep. Sam Hunt, D—Olympia.

Cross-agency Coordinated Effort

The AGO Criminal Justice Division conducted the investigation in conjunction with the Washington State Department of Revenue, Office of Insurance Commissioner, the Employment Security Department and Department of Labor & Industries, as well as the United States Bankruptcy Trustee and the United States Department of Labor.

“We’re doing everything possible to make sure these employees get the wages they’ve earned,” said Washington State Labor & Industries Director Joel Sacks. “Every worker expects to get paid when they put in a day’s work. It’s the law. When a worker doesn’t get a paycheck, it’s frustrating and can mean bills don’t get paid or they don’t have money to put food on the table.”

Vikki Smith, Washington State Department of Revenue’s acting director, said “The defendants’ actions amount to taking nearly $500,000 in tax dollars that should be helping fund schools, public health, law enforcement and protections for children and seniors. Ninety-seven percent of businesses pay their taxes on time and in full. Adams and Sargent flagrantly disregarded the law and should be held fully accountable for their actions.”

“Health insurance is a benefit afforded to all citizens under the Affordable Care Act,” Washington State Insurance Commissioner Mike Kreidler said. “It is not OK to collect employees’ health insurance premiums and leave them high and dry when they need medical care. We are happy to support Attorney General Ferguson’s efforts to recover what these employees and Aetna are owed.”

Assistant Attorney General Scott Marlow and AGO investigator Lisa Gilman are leads on this case.

King County Prosecutor Dan Satterberg and Pierce County Prosecutor Mark Lindquist granted the AGO concurrent authority to prosecute this case.

How to File Wage Theft Violations with the State Department of Labor & Industries

If you believe you are a victim of wage theft, immediately file a complaint with the Department of Labor & Industries (L&I). Preserve any pertaining documentation regarding the amount of wages you believe you are owed.

Workers can file a wage complaint if a business does not pay them. Workers can also file a complaint if the business denies other workplace rights that are regulated by L&I, such as meal and rest breaks, overtime, and family care.

Individuals can download a Worker Rights Complaint form (F700-148-000) or they can go to their nearest L&I office to get one. Either way, they should mail the completed form or deliver it in person to the nearest L&I office. Find out more about how to file a worker rights complaint here.

FROM THE CALL: Attorney General Bob Ferguson says this is only the second case of its kind ever filed – and says, “We’re here to put businesses on notice” that they won’t get away with the kind of conduct alleged here. “If you cheat the workers and cheat the state, my office will hold you accountable.”

ADDED 11:19 AM: The opening statements followed what’s in the news release above, and questions are being taken. We asked if, with Adams being in federal bankruptcy, there’s really any hope of restitution – they reply: They’ll try their best.

ADDED 11:27 AM: Ferguson says this started as a tax-evasion investigation, following an audit that showed “the clubs weren’t paying the taxes (they should),” and that led to the wage-theft investigation. It’s taken them almost a year of work to get to the point of filing charges. It’s been reiterated that if you are a victim of wage theft, please take it to authorities – it’s a widespread crime but cannot be prosecuted if it’s not reported: “It’s a priority.” He also reiterates, “We’re not interested in your immigration status” when you are making a report like this.

ADDED 11:35 AM: We should reiterate that this case involves former club owner Sam Adams and a business partner, NOT the current ownership of the club, which is now renamed West Seattle Health Club and owned/operated by the property owner. Our coverage of the gym saga is archived here, newest to oldest.

ADDED 5:29 PM: Reached on the phone by The Associated Press, Adams declared himself “flustered” by news of the charges.